Chuck enters anti-IDC fray

ALBANY — Sen. Chuck Schumer has joined a growing chorus calling on eight breakaway state Senate Democrats to reunify with the mainline Dems.

The Independent Democratic Conference, or IDC, has been aligned in a leadership coalition with the Senate Republicans.

“The IDC, they’re elected as Democrats and they should caucus with the Democrats and create a Democratic majority,” Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Monday.“We have the greatest respect for Sen. Schumer,” IDC spokeswoman Candice Giove said. “However, on this issue he is wrong. The IDC, a third separate conference, has never caucused with Republicans and has consistently helped to elect Democrats throughout this state.”